MJD’s compensation gets cut in half

Posted by Mike Florio on March 31, 2014, 2:59 PM EST

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Running back Maurice Jones-Drew wasn’t happy with a Jaguars contract that paid him $4.45 million in 2012 and $4.95 million in 2013. He can’t be thrilled, then, about his how first foray into free agency finished.

Per a source with knowledge of the contract details, Jones-Drew’s three-year contract with the Raiders has an annual average value of only $2.5 million.

Specifically, he’ll make $2.5 million each year. In 2014, the money comes from a $1.2 million fully guaranteed roster bonus, a non-guaranteed base salary of $1.2 million, and a workout bonus of $100,000.

Next year, the money comes from a $2.4 million salary (non-guaranteed) and a $100,000 workout bonus. The same formula applies in 2016.

Jones-Drew’s replacement in Jacksonville, Toby Gerhart, is getting $3.5 million per year on a three-year deal, with $4.5 million guaranteed. Former Colts tailback Donald Brown, now a Charger, has the same three-year package, with $4 million guaranteed.

While surely the best offer Jones-Drew received, it’s far short of what he thought he’d get on the open market. Which explains why the numbers didn’t come out until they were officially filed.

Still, it’s always better to be silent about a bad deal than to try to make a bad deal look better than it is by lying about the numbers.

If he isn’t happy with this price then naturally he would have retired. Sounds to me like he is happy with this number, and probably was happy with the previous numbers but felt like complaining anyhow just because some people aren’t very appreciative of getting paid many millions of dollars to play a kid’s game.

Aside from his baseless holdout and parting comments, I loved having him on the Jags. In his prime he ran as tough as anyone. This is a business though, and he is on the decline. Glad he found a home, but I most definitely dont feel sorry for him.

MJD is a BALLER. He’s already made Money, he coming back to play in his hometown for his friends and family. Even though he past his prime is likely these will be his best years…He living the dream and he will be remembered for bringing his team the Raiders back to relevance.

Thank God we learned our lesson from the Lamont Jordan contract…that one was ugly.

trollhammer20 says:Mar 31, 2014 3:31 PM

I remember when I was a kid, everyone wanted to be a QB, but RB was right behind on the list.

Today’s kids would be well-advised to take up WR or CB instead – the possibility for a long-term, big-money deal are much, much greater, and careers probably last longer as well. There’s just not as much money in being a RB these days.

Raiders should sign RB Chris Johnson when the Titans cut him along with DJAX and Draft WR Sammy Watkins . Then it will be a fun 2014 season and all the haters will finally back off and shut up. Once they move back to LA or VEGAS it’s lights out for the AFC . The Raiders will be bad from the dead like Lazarus for sure . They get a brand new stadium like the Cowboys have and EVERY TOP FA will want to be a Raider .

Did no one read the article on the devaluation of the NFL Running Back? Value of RBs have gone down considerably in the NFL due to draft standing because most backs have remained one dimensional. Backs have become a dime a dozen and interchangeable. You have to have a back that can not only run for 16 games but catch and even throw during that time. There are punters getting paid more than RBs due to longevity alone. Where a kicker can easily get 7 points in a game, it’s hard for a RB to get a touchdown or a 100yd game and all while the load was placed on them

Jags overpaid for an unproven guy and a team leader and when healthy, a rushing Champ in last three years was let go, for nothing, to sign for a lot less than our new, career-long 2nd-string replacement? Sorry, but this is a mistake. I can’t help but think if Caldwell could have gotten MJD back for $3M guaranteed for one year he’d of paid it. Now MJD goes to Oakland. Sad.

MJD knew he was on borrowed time when he held out two years ago. He had confirmed in interviews that the cartilage in one of his knees was gone, and it really looked like that holdout was his one last chance for a payday before his on-field performance caught up with his physical decline.

I doubt very much that he’s unhappy with the contract he got. He’s known for years that this is where he’d be at this season.

The guy has been a class act the whole way, the holdout was just business, it didn’t come with pouting to the press or snotty tweets. Wish him all the best in Oakland.

I like how you pinheads pump out weak little zingers without a shred of pride. MJD is a good running back. He had foot surgery. Quit making it an issue. And maybe quit drinking yourselves to death and posting drunken rhetoric you moonbats.

MJD’s contract in Jax was a front loaded contract which shows the player they believe in him and want to kept him. Your rarely see front end contracts. All he should be is grateful they showed that much love toward him. As far as his free agency I’d have thought he’d get at least 4 mill a year myself. He probably could have went to the Pats,steelers, Denver,falcons, or a few other teams that need a good RB. I’m glad he’s a Raider though. I think with him starting and McFadden as a change up back we can be dangerous for sure.